Urinary Tract

Infections and
Vesicoureteral
Reflux
in Children
Jake Klein,
MS, CPNP
Clinic Manager
Pediatric Urology Clinic
Childrens Hospital, OU Medical
Center

Urinary Tract Infections

UTI: Growth of significant number of organisms of a

single species in the urine, in the presence of symptoms.
> 50,000 CFU/ml from an accurately collected specimen
TWO TYPES OF UTIs
Distinction between upper (pyelo) and lower tract
(cystitis) UTI is not always possible - or even necessary.
Clinical severity determines management course.
ALL FEBRILE UTIs: considered to involve the upper
tract with the greatest potential for renal scarring.

Signs & Symptoms of UTIs

Features of UTI in infants are nonspecific:

thus a high degree of suspicion is necessary.

1)

Infant or child with unexplained fever beyond 3 days.

2)
3)
4)

Fever generally will not break with conservative measures.

Neonates usually part of septicemia and presents

with fever, vomiting, lethargy, jaundice and seizures.
Infants & young children may present with fever,
diarrhea, vomiting, abd. pain, and poor weight gain.
Older child dysuria, hematuria, urgency, frequency,
flank pain, foul smelling urine, or onset of wetting.

Urine Sample Collection &

Diagnostic Testing Methods

Prevent
contamination!!!!!
Send urine within 1
hour for accurate
culture results.
Can refrigerate for up
to 24 hrs if delay.
Significant UTIs:
>100,000 CFU/HPF

Bagged = BAD highly

unreliable!
Voided clean catch (8090% accurate if perineum
well cleaned & caught
midstream)
Catheterized Most
accurate and reliable
Supra pubic aspiration
very rare / very accurate

Who needs X-Ray evaluation?

Any child with febrile UTI or recurrent UTIs.

ALL females < 5 yo with UTI
Non-febrile UTIs (male at any age, neonate, toilet
training children)

STANDARD WORK UP includes

VCUG (voiding cystourethrogram)

Allows for grading (NCG can not grade VUR)

RUS (complete renal ultrasound)

Optional: Nuclear Renal Scans

DTPA (GFR) / Glucoheptonate-DMSA (Cortical Binding)

Vesicoureteral Reflux

Backwash or retrograde flow of urine from the

bladder into the ureters, and usually up to the kidneys.
VUR is a risk factor for upper tract
infection=Pyelonephritis.
VUR found in 50% of children with UTI.
Affects 1% of all children.
Boys typically dx with higher grades than girls.
Female to Male ratio is 6:1
10 times more common in whites vs blacks
Hereditary components / Family history !
parent: 50% / sibling 33-45%

Etiology / Pathophysiology

Primary: (Congenital) defect of UVJ

(ureterovesical junction) Most common
deficient tunnel / laterally displaced orifices
Secondary (Acquired) increased intravesical
pressure secondary to neurogenic problems or
DES, bladder instability, bladder outlet
obstruction (PUVs)
UTIs (problem #1) do not cause reflux!!
Reflux (problem #2) does not cause UTIs!!

Anatomy and Grading System

Management Trends / Rx

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

A person can NEVER be cured of UTIs

A person CAN BE cured of reflux.
Must address UTI risk factors FIRST !
Poor voiding habits
Constipation
Hygiene
Poor bladder immunity
Gender
Structural anomalies

TREATMENT of VUR
Daily prophylactic antibiotic until reflux selfresolves or is surgically repaired.
Surgery (laparoscopic, open ,DEFLUX)
Aggressive tx of dysfunctional elimination.
ABSOLUTE indication to repair =
Catheterized culture documented
breakthrough UTI.
Several other relative indications to repair

Complications of
VUR Infection

Renal Scarring

Greatest risk of scarring: Birth to 5 years of age.

Impaired renal growth and function

Hypertension (occurs in 10% cases with scarring)
End stage renal disease
Pregnancy complications (pre-eclampsia)

Referral Criteria and Follow Up

Referral
Abnormal antenatal
ultrasounds =
hydronephrosis
Recurrent UTI
Febrile UTIs
VUR lasting 5 years
or longer.

Follow-up
VCUGs/NCGs/RUS
are done yearly.
NRS as indicated if
concerns of scarring
and function loss.
DES patients need
close f/u as indicated.

Prophylactic Medications

Bactrim/Septra/TMP-SMX
Macrodantin, Furadantin,
Nitrofurantoin (1-2
mg/kg/per day) Capsules are
the best.

Keflex
Amoxicillin: (for infants less
than 2 months or allergy to
Bactrim)
Generally dose prophylactics
at 1/3 1/ 4 the therapeutic
treatment dose.

Bactrim
5 kg = tsp
10 kg = tsp
15 kg = tsp
20 kg = 1 tsp

Evolution in VUR management

Changes
Minimally invasive
surgery
Observation off RX
Aggressive management
DES
Prenatal detection

Improvements
Early detection
Decreased surgical
morbidity
Pain management
Early hospital discharge
Reduced post-op X-Ray
evaluations.

The END!

References

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Pearson, L.J., (2000). Nurse Practioners Drug Handbook (3rd ed.). Springhouse, PA.:
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Philadelphia, PA : W. B. Saunders Company.
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